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Councils reassure Hawke’s Bay residents ‘at-risk’ properties map still provisional

Published

3 years ago

June 14, 2023

Thousands of Hawke’s Bay people with cyclone-damaged homes can start sitting down with council officials from Wednesday to nut out what exactly is going to happen to their properties.

There are 236 properties in the high-risk category three which qualify for a voluntary buyout – and there are more than 2500 in category two that can be lived in as long as they have better flood protection.

At a community meeting in rural Puketapu on Tuesday night, residents were starting to see the way ahead.

About 100 people took a seat in a school hall for a Q-and-A with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Hastings District Council bosses.

The pair were quick to reassure the crowd that the maps putting land into categories one to three – from low to high risk – were far from final.

The regional council’s interim chief executive, Bill Bayfield, said the Beehive had forced their hand to release them earlier than they were comfortable with.

“We announced those maps when minister [Grant] Robertson wanted us to, on the 31st of May,” Bayfield said.

“In one of my new departments, a woman stood up and just let rip with an absolutely unbelievable scream, that she’d been classed as category three in Esk Valley.”

But Bayfield said the woman’s home was not high risk – and other people may find out the same applied to their homes.

He said the data the categories were based on did not drill down to individual properties and he would have liked to have waited for the final quality assurance – due on 14 June – before releasing the information.

A community meeting with residents about cyclone and flood-damaged properties placed into risk categories in rural Puketapu on 14 June, 2023.A community meeting with residents about cyclone and flood-damaged properties placed into risk categories in rural Puketapu on 14 June, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Lauren Crimp
Hastings District Council chief executive Nigel Bickle reiterated that the current maps were not set in stone.

“These are not decisions, they’re provisional, they need to be assured,” Bickle said.

“And then we actually have to come and have these conversations with the communities, and individuals within the communities, and that’s the things that will happen over the next few weeks.”

That consultation – a mix of community meetings, drop-in centres, and the opportunity for one-on-one conversations – would play a huge part in finalising a property’s risk rating, Bickle said.

Bayfield told those with properties in category two – who might need to raise their houses or have bigger stopbanks and better drains – that they would not have to wait months for work to be finished before they could properly fix their homes and claim insurance.

They would be moved to category one before the work even started.

“You won’t have to wait til the work is actually physically done,” Bayfield said.

“Once that mitigation is agreed by the community that’s going to be impacted and will contribute to paying towards it, and we’ve got the funding, then we will basically commence construction.

“But even before then, we will signal that two is down to one.”

That was a relief for resident Bayne Smart.

“We’re zone 2C, and we thought, that’s it, we won’t get any flood insurance,” Smart said.

“But it looks like there’s a good possibility that that’ll go now into one,” he said.

“Although insurances have gone up, but we’ll get flood cover, that’ll be a good thing.”

Flood damage in the Esk Valley in Hawke’s Bay.Flood damage seen in Esk Valley, Hawke’s Bay in February, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
Voluntary buyout deal struck by end of June
Bickle said councils had already begun negotiations with the government over splitting the cost of buying out high-risk homes which were too unsafe to live in.

Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson had promised a deal would be sorted out by the end of June, he said.

On the whole, the crowd were pleased with what they heard.

Dartmoor Valley fruit grower Lesley Wilson said while everyone wanted to move on with their lives, a lot had been done in the four months since the cyclone.

“When you’re living it day to day, it does feel like it’s very slow in progress,” Wilson said.

“But we’ve got a little bit of information, which in most cases is better than none.”

School principal Chris Fox said people left the meeting feeling “reasonably happy”.

“But there’s lots of unanswered questions, too – lots of promises that we’ll only know if they materialise whether that’s a fact or not.”

Gisborne District Council and Auckland Council are following suit and asking affected property owners for input about the risk categorisation of their property.

More than 1000 Tai Rāwhiti properties have been affected by recent bad weather; most have provisionally been placed in category two and 17 are in the high-risk category three.

Gisborne District Council will run drop-in sessions and community hui to give people the chance to ask questions about their individual situations.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz said they would not have all the answers, but they wanted to hear from the community before categories were finalised.

VIA RNZ

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz